Brezová pod Bradlom Genealogy, History, Culture

1709:
The 1709 census of Brezová lists people mainly by their names but only
the important people get to be mentioned by their profession.
Among them are:
Jan and Juraj Placko....shoemakers
Tomas Vevericka....kramar (small "shopkeeper" or "merchant")
Jan Valko - baker
Stefan Nespor- maker of spoons
Martin Gavurnik- tar maker
(from the book Brezová pod Bradlom; translation by Les Baraz, with additional
help by Vlad Bzdusek)

The very first Brezovan to emigrate to America was 24-year-old Samuel
Sagat, a hat maker who settled in Yonkers, New York. He left shortly
after he got married, in 1888, leaving his pregnant wife alone,
claiming she was unfaithful to him. (not justified). He sent her money, though.
He returned to Brezová 1 1/2 years later, told everybody about the good
fortunes in America and on his way back he took with him a "whole bunch"
of Brezovans. (No names mentioned). The Brezovans quickly nicknamed him
Golumbus or Kolombus for obvious reasons.

Another pioneer to leave for America in 1889 was Juraj Papanek who was also
followed by others.

It is estimated that in the period between 1893-1908 there were 1,500
Brezovans that left for America. (Ref: K. Culen's book A History of Slovaks in America)

Brezovans in general did well in the new country, mainly because they were
hard working and reliable. A lot of them worked in the leather processing
industry, the trade they learned in Brezová (Garbiarstvo). Others worked in
factories, opened small shops, farmed and one family, Papanek, even opened
their own bank.

There were in total 80 families that left and never returned. They were: